Thursday, April 26, 2007

Book Review: The Rising

I finally had a chance to read The Rising by Brian Keene. I have to say, Mr. Keene is one sick, twisted individual…which in this instance is a good thing. “The Color of Death isn’t black…it’s red.”

The Rising is a heart wrenching tale about what a father will do to be there for his son that just so happens to take place amidst the fall of humanity. True, it is a zombie story, but these aren’t your run of the mill, shuffling, groaning, good for nothing but eating brains, living dead. No siree Bob, the dead are rising because the doors of hell have been blown from the hinges and the evil which spews forth has found a way to make use of the recently fallen. Not even animals are safe from the spreading menace.

Synopsis:The dead are returning to life as zombies. But they're not just flesh-eating ghouls, they're intelligent, capable creatures that are taking on all forms of life: both human and animal. Trapped by the undead, escape seems impossible for Jim Thurmond. But Jim’s young son is alive and in dire peril hundreds of miles away with his ex-wife and her husband. Despite overwhelming odds, Jim vows to find him— or die trying.

Joined by an elderly preacher, a guilt-ridden scientist, and a determined ex-prostitute, Jim embarks on a cross-country rescue mission. They must battle both the living and the living dead. And for Jim and his companions, an even greater evil awaits them at the end of their journey. This is the time of...The Rising.

I thoroughly enjoyed exploring the world Brian built. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good story that grabs you by the…well, let’s go with the seat of the pants here, but you get the picture.

Rating: 5 stars

By the way, Mr. Keene is also a blogger. If you get a chance, mosey on by and check out his blog.